T20 cricket is expanding in America, where the fairly new cricket format is growing by leaps and bounds.

Florida cricket is in the forefront with more than 100 teams spanning from the North Florida Cricket League in Jacksonville, Florida Cricket Conference in Orlando, Tampa Bay Cricket League and South Florida Cricket Leagues in Broward and Dade counties.

Formed by Khalid Muneer and Dr. Mahesh Allam, Cricket Orlando is a sports management company designed to coordinate efforts of the many leagues with the business community involved in tourism and make the Sunshine State a cricket destination.

Its inaugural event is the 2017 Freedom Cup set for Independence Day weekend July 1-4 at the Poinciana Cricket Ground (2500 Poinciana Parkway, Kissimmee) and Winter Haven Cricket Club (801 Ave. T, N.E.)

Eight top teams from across Florida will compete for $10,000 total prize money. For complete match schedule, visit Cricket Orlando Facebook

BK SHIVANI TO SPEAK IN TAMPA (JULY 6), ORLANDO/LONGWOOD (JULY 7)

Brahma Kumari Shivani , an internationally renowned inspirational speaker, will visit Tampa on July 6 and Orlando/Longwood on July 7. The theme of her Tampa lecture will be “Awakening Your Inner Power” and in Orlando, she will focus on “Awakening To the Call of Time.” Sister Shivani presents spiritual solutions to the complex problems of contemporary life through a TV program, “Awakening with Brahma Kumaris,” and a YouTube channel with more than 33 million views and over 160,000 subscribers.

Sister Mohini, regional coordinator of the Brahma Kumaris for the Americas, explains the focus of the U.S. tour: “These programs are about spiritual awakening that is, awakening to the true self. We all have an inner potential which we are unaware of. When we awaken to it, we can use it in life. A spiritual ‘awakening’ can open doorways to new types of solutions and higher levels of freedom and satisfaction.”

Sister Shivani practices Raja Yoga Meditation as taught by the Brahma Kumaris (brahmakumaris.us). She became a popular presenter on the TV show by applying Raja Yoga to the common challenges of life. Her unique blend of commonsense practicality and unarguable spiritual principles has endeared her to an international audience thirsty for solutions that work.

Sister Shivani has travelled throughout India, UK, Asia Pacific, Africa and Middle East to conduct lectures, workshops, and TV and radio shows on themes such as emotional intelligence, leadership skills, parenting and relationships, self-realization and the practical technique of Raja Yoga Meditation.

The Tampa program will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (light vegetarian meal will be served at 5:30) at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road. Registration is required. Visit bkshivanitampa.eventbrite.com For information, call (813) 987-2525 or tampa@us.brahmakumaris.org

The Orlando/Longwood event will be at Lyman High School, 865 S. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood. Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 followed by the program. Registration is required. Visit www.bkorlando.org For information, call (407) 228-0026 or orlando@us.brahmakumaris.org

The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization in the U.S. is part of a worldwide network of learning and retreat centers dedicated to transformation through meditation leading to self- mastery. It offers free instruction in meditation and spiritual living as a community service.

TAMPA TO HOLD ANNUAL RATH YATRA ON JUNE 25

By NITISH S. RELE

The annual Tampa Bay Rath Yatra (The Festival of Chariots and Dharma Sammelan) will be held Sunday, June 25, at Hindu Temple of Florida, 5509 Lynn Road. The festival, organized and celebrated by the Tampa Bay Rath Yatra (T.R.Y.) Association since 2006, will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the seating of Lord Jagannath, Balram and Subadhra on main stage followed by arati and puja. Then Rath Yatra will begin on the set route near the temple and then return and settle in the temple hall. After mahaprasad, there will be a cultural program. Future plans include installing the three murtis at the Sanatan Mandir (311 E. Palm Ave.) under construction in Tampa. Starting next year, Rath Yatra will be at the new Palm Avenue temple.

In India, the holy town of Puri, Orissa, home of the Lord of the Universe, Jagannath, celebrates this festival. The temple of Jagannath, also known as Krishna, in Puri is one of India’s major pilgrimage sites. The Festival of Chariots signifies Lord Jagannath’s journey from the forest into the hearts of people. The Rath Yatra in Puri will be on June 25 also.

‘KRISHNA’ FUNDRAISER HELPS SANATAN MANDIR RAISE OVER $450,000

More than 500 people attended “Krishna – The Joy of Living” – a grand musical theater production, recently at India Cultural Center (ICC) in Tampa. Co-chaired by physicians Kiran Patel and Rakesh Sharma, the fundraiser performance for the under-construction Sanatan Mandir raised over $450,000.

Among the attendees were Brandon area high-end donors such as Chandrakant Patel, Vasant Patel, Prativ Patel, Dr. Magan Bakarania, as well as Sindhi Society of Central Florida President Assam Shahdadpuri, who pledged $50,000, which were matched by another $50,000 from the Sindhi group members.

Nearly 50 Tampa Bay singers and dancers came together under the leadership of visionary musician and composer Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran to present Krishna verses in Braj bhasha, Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Marathi and Gujarati by a choir with orchestral accompaniment, leaving the audience speechless.

Temple Construction Committee Chair Hitesh Adhia offered a report on the progress of the new building. Sanatan Mandir President Pankaj Patel thanked the on-ground “Krishna” leadership of Dr. Satish Ankalikar, Dr. Manjul Derasari and Radha Raman Kirtane, as well as the participants, and ICC Chair Dr. Ashok Modh.

At 311 E. Palm Ave., the new Sanatan Mandir will be more than 10,000 square feet. For information on groundbreaking and other details, call (813) 221-4482 or visit SanatanMandirTampa.Org.